Goods & Services

Editors’ Picks

Best place to paint a mug

There’s a whole slew of paint-and-sip places around the valley nowadays, where gaggles of gigglers gather to drink wine, paint still-lifes, and make a mockery of the whole idea of art-making. We’ve got nothing against it, really—it’s probably a great experience for your corporate team-building group or bachelorette party or whatever. Sure, it’s fun and mildly creative—and hopefully a little art-making experience will help the dilettantes appreciate the good stuff. In many ways, Clay Canvas, which has been in business locally for more than 20 years, is the best possible version of that kind of thing. But instead of painting on canvases, which will likely never be hung, the painting is done on ceramic pieces, like coffee mugs, plates and piggy banks—functional items that make great one-of-a-kind gifts. The ceramic painting might unlock latent creativity, but otherwise, functional ceramics are more forgiving than unadorned canvases. It’s also genuine no-joke fun for the whole family, if you bring the kids, who might learn a great lesson: It’s better to make things than buy things.

Best campus cluster

The stretch of Virginia Street that borders the University of Nevada, Reno used to offer only the bare basics of college-lifestyle amenities—burger joints, textbook stores, some good watering holes and one legendary record shop. While we at the RN&R tend to hold our horses when it comes to cheerleading about gentrification—there’s a down side, you know, as our most vulnerable citizens get displaced—we do enjoy the small cluster of cozy hangouts at 935 and 941 N. Virginia St. They’re the types of places that students used to have to leave the neighborhood to find. Hub University is a comfortable spot for coffee meetings with good art. Laughing Planet Café serves quick, healthy lunches. Mill Juice Shop saves you the trip to San Francisco for your avocado toast and hemp seed pesto, and Dropout Bike Shop is a slick yet welcoming place to buy a bike, rent a bike, get a quick repair, or cavort with fellow gearheads.

Readers’ Picks

Best local business

1. Bizarre Guitar

2677 Oddie Blvd., 331-1001

2. Pet Play House

2403 E. Fourth St., 324-0202

Best place to get a car repaired

1. Landa Muffler & Brake

816 E. Fourth St., 322-0112

2. CoAuto

2155 Dickerson Road, 360-5361

2. Tadd Devine Automotive LLC

4993 Longley Lane, 827-2886

Best bridal salon

1. Swoon … a bridal salon

530 W. Plumb Lane, 826-0505

2. Blue Garter Bridal & Tux

948 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 358-4141

3. David’s Bridal

6745 S. Virginia St., 852-7978

Best Pilates studio

1. Purely Pilates Studio

4690 Longley Lane, 826-8278

2. Club Pilates Reno

6815 Sierra Center Parkway, 298-1678

3. Ball Fitness Studios

460 California Ave., 324-3224

Best optical shop

1. Adlington Eye Center & Eyeglass Gallery

500 W. Plumb Lane, 284-3937

2. Downtown Vision

236 W. Sixth St., 322-4061

3. DeMers Family Vision Group

670 N. McCarran Blvd., Sparks, 358-1317

Best tattoo artist

1. Tony Medellin

Lasting Dose Tattoo & Art Collective, 888 S. Virginia St., 324-0666

2. Ron Rash

Lasting Dose Tattoo & Art Collective, 888 S. Virginia St., 324-0666

3. Mark Moots

Marked Studios, 945 W. Moana Lane, 209-1612

3. Mike Curatello

Lasting Dose Tattoo & Art Collective, 888 S. Virginia St., 324-0666

Best yoga instructor

1. Melissa Martinez-Chauvin

Temple Yoga Reno, 190 California Ave., 240-8923

2. Kelly Aguilera

The Studio Reno, 1085 S. Virginia St., 284-5545

3. Eleanor Girdis

Midtown Community Yoga, 600 S. Virginia St., 870-9905

Best place to get pierced

1. Black Hole Body Piercing

912 S. Virginia St., 329-6010

2. Fondue Body Boutique

416 Greenbrae Drive, Sparks, 359-1750

3. Reno Tattoo Company

818 S. Virginia St., 322-6393

Best new car dealership

1. Carson City Toyota

2590 S. Carson St., Carson City, 882-8211

2. Dolan Auto Group

2100 Kietzke Lane, 826-2750

3. Bill Pearce Motors

11555 S. Virginia St., 826-2100

Best specialty ice cream store

1. Icecycle Creamery

6147 Lakeside Drive, 827-2777

2. Cold Stone Creamery

299 E. Plumb Lane, 322-3110

3. The Baked Bear

1495 E. Prater Way, Sparks, 384-2927

Best wine shop

1. Total Wine & More

6671 S. Virginia St., 853-3669

2. Whispering Vine Wine Co.

3886 Mayberry Drive, 787-9463

3. Whispering Vine Wine Co.

85 Foothill Road, 622-8080

Best spa

1. Dolce Vita Wellness Spa

16640 Wedge Parkway, 772-0032

2. Spavia Day Spa

13925 S. Virginia St., 432-6572

3. Spa West

1545 S. Virginia St., 322-7777

Best place for music lessons

1. Bizarre Guitar

2677 Oddie Blvd., 331-1001

2. JamPro Music Factory

9300 Prototype Drive, 800-1772

3. One Stop Guitar

730 Tahoe St., 232-9302

Best publication (that’s not us)

1. Reno Tahoe Tonight

2. Edible Reno-Tahoe

3. Reno Gazette-Journal

Best place to buy a musical instrument

1. Bizarre Guitar

2677 Oddie Blvd., 331-1001

2. Guitar Center

6663 S. Virginia St., 853-3961

3. Absolute Music

8175 S. Virginia St., 852-2637

Best antique store

1. Junkee Clothing Exchange & Antique Mall

960 S. Virginia St., 322-5865

2. The Virginia Street Antique Mall

1251 S. Virginia St., 324-4141

3. The Nest

201 Keystone Ave., 284-8841

Best thrift store

1. Junkee Clothing Exchange & Antique Mall

960 S. Virginia St., 322-5865

2. Savers

3800 Kietzke Lane, 284-4350

3. Savers

2350 Oddie Blvd., 359-4244

Best tanning salon

1. Element Tanning

3600 Warren Way, 829-8267

2. Pacific Sun Tanning Company

500 E. Moana Lane, 826-4537

3. Sunsation

1450 E. Prater Way, Sparks, 359-9955

Best place to buy vintage clothes

1. Junkee Clothing Exchange & Antique Mall

960 S. Virginia St., 322-5865

2. The Nest

201 Keystone Ave., 284-8841

3. Bad Apple Vntg.

1001 S. Virginia St., 800-1069

Best motorcycle dealer, shop

1. Chester’s Reno Harley-Davidson

2315 Market St., 329-2913

2. Big Valley Honda

2225 Market St., 322-4311

3. Michael’s Reno Powersports

10828 S. Virginia St., 825-8680

Best jewelry store

1. BVW Jewelers

35 Foothill Road, 622-9015

2. Michael & Sons Jewelry

1401 S. Virginia St., 786-5110

3. Ince Jewelers

550 W. Plumb Lane, 323-5100

Best place to buy a firearm

1. Bizarre Guns

2677 Oddie Blvd., 685-4867

2. Cabela’s

8650 Boomtown Garson Road, Verdi, 829-4100

3. Scheels All Sports

1200 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 331-2700

Best shoe selection

1. Dillard’s

13933 S. Virginia St., 852-3080

2. DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse

6659 S. Virginia St., 852-9401

3. Red Wing

299 E. Plumb Lane, 323-4966

Best hair stylist

1. Brian Jensen

Jensen & Co. Salon

2. Tres Benzley

Caliber Hair & Makeup Studio

3. Rhiannon Box

Wade West Salon

Best hotel for a romantic getaway

1. Whitney Peak Hotel

255 N. Virginia St., 398-5400

2. The Landing Tahoe Resort & Spa

4104 Lakeshore Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, California (530) 541-5263

Best veterinarian

1. Southwest Veterinary Hospital

960 W. Moana Lane, 825-7984

2. Baring Boulevard Veterinary Hospital

700 Baring Blvd., Sparks, 358-6880

2. Klaich Animal Hospital

1990 S. Virginia St., 826-1212

Best independent bookstore

1. Sundance Books & Music

121 California Ave., 786-1188

2. Grassroots Books

660 E. Grove St., 828-2665

3. Textbook Brokers - TMCC

910 E. Parr Blvd., 323-8622

Best tattoo parlor

1. Aces Tattoo

675 S. Virginia St. 232-6280

2. Marked Studios

945 W. Moana Lane, 209-1612

3. Lasting Dose Tattoo & Art Collective

888 S. Virginia St., 324-0666

Best independent coffee shop

1. Hub Coffee Roasters

727 Riverside Drive, 453-1911

2. Coffeebar

682 Mt. Rose St., 800-1090

3. Bibo Coffee Company

460 S. Sierra St., 329-2114

Best frame shop

1. Aaron Brothers

4809 Kietzke Lane, 827-2004

1. Fastframe

940 W. Moana Lane, 825-4499

3. The Framery

120 Thoma St., 857-8821

Best outdoor outfitter

1. REI

2225 Harvard Way, 828-9090

2. Scheels All Sports

1200 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 331-2700

3. Cabela’s

8650 Boomtown Garson Road, Verdi, 829-4100

Best place to buy CDs or vinyl records

1. Recycled Records

822 S. Virginia St., 826-4119

2. Sundance Books & Music

121 California Ave., 786-1188

3. Discology

11 N. Sierra St., 323-2121

Best independent hardware store

1. Carter Bros Ace Hardware

1215 S. Virginia St., 337-1200

2. Shelly’s True Value Hardware

440 Greenbrae Drive, Sparks, 358-1841

3. Harbor Freight Tools

3800 Kietzke Lane, 331-1375

Best photography supply store

1. Gordon’s Photo Service

5067 S. McCarran Blvd., 826-6488

2. Best Buy

5575 S. Virginia St., 448-9797

Best place for photo prints

1. Gordon’s Photo Service

5067 S. McCarran Blvd., 826-6488

2. Costco

2200 Harvard Way, 689-2200

3. Costco

4810 Galleria Parkway, Sparks, 356-4400

Best men’s clothing store

1. Macy’s

5100 Meadowood Mall Circle, 826-8333

2. Men’s Wearhouse

5000 Smithridge Drive, 826-6744

3. Dick Diamond’s Golden Jackal

600 S. Virginia St., 432-1117

Best video game store

1. Cap’n Games

621 Pyramid Way, Sparks, 677-0311

2. GameStop

650 N. McCarran Blvd., Sparks, 355-0100

3. GameStop

5116 Meadowood Mall Circle, 825-7544

Best garden nursery

1. Moana Lane Garden Center

1100 W. Moana Lane, 825-0600

2. Rail City Garden Center

1720 Brierley Way, 355-1551

3. Sierra Water Gardens

2110 Dickerson Road, 622-4090

Best children’s clothing boutique

1. Sippee’s

955 S. Virginia St., 329-2110

2. Once Upon A Child

6015 S. Virginia St., 984-5831

3. Carter’s

1350 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 358-5752

Best bank

1. Greater Nevada Credit Union

5150 Mae Anne Ave., 882-2060

2. Great Basin Federal Credit Union

295 Los Altos Parkway, Sparks, 789-3165

3. Bank of America

1830 S. Virginia St., 688-8532

Best independent grocery store

1. Great Basin Community Food Co-op

240 Court St., 324-6133

2. Trader Joe’s

5035 S. McCarran Blvd., 826-1621

3. Marketon Supermarket

1500 S. Wells Ave., 786-8788

Best used car dealership

1. Internet Auto

1220 Kietzke Lane, 379-2252

2. CarMax

35 Auto Center Drive, 852-1594

3. Bill Pearce Motors

11555 S. Virginia St., 826-2100

Best barber

1. Vinnie Gravellese

Derby Supply Company

2. Patrick Sutton

Maxwell’s Barbershop

3. Juan Garcia

Reno House of Fades

Best gym

2. South Reno Athletic Club

9393 Gateway Drive, 853-4050

2. Saint Mary’s Center for Health and Fitness

645 N. Arlington Ave., 770-3800

3. Evoke Fitness Training Complex

895 E. Patriot Blvd., 827-1995

Best flower shop

2. Serendipity Floral & Garden

75 Foothill Road, 737-9800

2. Sparks Florist

1001 Pyramid Way, Sparks, 358-8500

3. St. Ives Florist

700 S. Wells Ave., 333-9190

Best used clothing store

1. Junkee Clothing Exchange

960 S. Virginia St., 322-5865

2. Plato’s Closet

5083 S. McCarran Blvd., 322-0110

3. Savers

3800 Kietzke Lane, 284-4350

Best bookstore

1. Sundance Books & Music

121 California Ave., 786-1188

2. Grassroots Books

660 E. Grove St., 828-2665

3. Barnes & Noble

5555 S. Virginia St., 826-8882

Best public relations agency

1. The Abbi Agency

1385 Haskell St., 323-2977

2. Design on Edge

1 E. First, St., 746-0717

3. KPS3 Marketing

50 W. Liberty St., 686-7439

Best yoga studio

1. The Studio

1085 S. Virginia St. 284-5545

2. Temple Yoga Reno

190 California Ave., 240-8923

3. Midtown Community Yoga

600 S. Virginia St., 870-9905

Best place to shoot firearms

1. Reno Guns & Range

2325 Market St., 826-2626

2. The desert

3. Big Shot Indoor Range

9425 Double R Blvd., 853-6272

Best hospital

1. Renown Regional Medical Center

1155 Mill St., 982-4100

2. Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center

235 W. Sixth St., 770-3000

3. Northern Nevada Medical Center

2375 E. Prater Way, Sparks, 331-7000

Best dry cleaners

1. Peerless Dry Cleaners

698 Forest St., 323-3261

2. Lakeside Cleaners

101 W. Plumb Lane, 323-6455

Best spectator sport

1. Reno Aces

2. Reno 1868 FC

3. University of Nevada, Reno football

Best mall

1. The Summit

13925 S. Virginia St., 853-7800

2. Meadowood Mall

5000 Meadowood Mall Circle, 827-8451

3. Legends at Sparks Marina

1310 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 358-3800

Best home furnishings store

1. RC Willey Home Furnishings

1201 Steamboat Pkwy., 337-4600

2. Ashley HomeStore

750 E. Moana Lane, 824-4800

3. West Elm

50 S. Virginia St., 324-0192

Best house cleaning service

1. White Lotus

35 N. Edison Way, 856-2345

2. Molly Maid

1380 Greg St., 359-1503

3. Spring Fresh

359-5534

Best adult-themed store

1. Suzie’s

195 Kietzke Lane, 786-8557

2. Adam & Eve

7520 Longley Lane, 852-1162

3. Chocolate Walrus

1278 S. Virginia St., 825-2267

Best pet store

1. Scraps Dog Company

7675 S. Virginia St., 853-3647

2. PetSmart

6675 S. Virginia St., 852-8490

3. Petco

5565 S. Virginia St, 829-9200

3. PetSmart

5110 Mae Anne Ave., 787-7833

Best business Facebook page

1. Bizarre Guitar

www.facebook.com/bizarreguitar

2. Nevada Humane Society

www.facebook.com/nevadahumanesociety

3. Pet Play House

www.facebook.com/PetPlayHouse/

Best aesthetician

1. Shawna Gulley

Luxe Beauty Bar

2. Jessica Williams

Jessica Williams Aesthetics

3. Mia Garcia Gomez

Lavishly Amplified

Best beauty salon

1. Shear Bliss Salon & Spa

5270 Longley Lane, 852-7575

2. Jensen & Co. Salon

495 Morrill Ave., 657-6576

3. L’essence Day Spa & Salon

242 W. Liberty St., 323-2040

Best doggy day care

1. Alissa Edmands, the Puppy Professor

www.thepuppyprofessor.com

2. Charlie’s Place

7930 Sugar Pine Court, 236-0251

3. On Command Boarding

875 Greg St., 825-3647

Best pet boarding

1. Pet Play House

2403 E. Fourth St., 324-0202

2. Charlie’s Place

7930 Sugar Pine Court, 236-0251

3. On Command Boarding

875 Greg St., 825-3647

Best athletic shoe selection

1. Scheels All Sports

1200 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 331-2700

2. Reno Running Company

13987 S. Virginia St., 853-801

3. Eclipse Running

3438 Lakeside Drive, 827-2276

Best gadget store

1. Apple Store

13925 S. Virginia St., 333-5460

2. Best Buy

5575 S. Virginia St., 448-9797

3. Scotland Yard Spy Shop

1092 S. Virginia St., 323-3232

Best boutique clothing store

1. Apricot Lane Boutique

5000 Meadowood Mall Circle, 824-9524

2. Junkee Clothing Exchange & Antique Mall

960 S. Virginia St., 322-5865

3. The Niche

1300 E. Plumb Lane, 348-8661

Best selection of local art

1. Artists Co-Op Gallery Reno

627 Mill St., 322-8896

1. Never Ender Boutique & Art Gallery

25 St. Lawrence Ave., 348-9440

3. Nevada Museum of Art

160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333

Best pet supply store

1. Scraps Dog Company

7675 S. Virginia St., 853-3647

2. PetSmart

6675 S. Virginia St., 852-8490

3. PetSmart

5110 Mae Anne Ave., 787-7833

Best outdoor gear selection

1. REI

2225 Harvard Way, 828-9090

2. Scheels All Sports

1200 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 331-2700

3. Cabela’s

8650 Boomtown Garson Road, Verdi, 829-4100

Best brothel

1. Mustang Ranch

Peri Ranch Road, Sparks, 342-0176

2. Moonlite Bunny Ranch

69 Moonlight Road, Mound House, 246-9901

3. Sagebrush Ranch

51 Kit Kat Drive, Mound House, (888) 852-8144

Best computer store

1. Apple Store

13925 S. Virginia St., 333-5460

2. Best Buy

5575 S. Virginia St., 448-9797

3. Best Buy

155 Los Altos Pkwy., Sparks, 626-8080

3. New 2U Computers

50 E. Greg St., Sparks, 329-1126

Best credit union

1. Greater Nevada Credit Union

5150 Mae Anne Ave., 882-2060

2. Great Basin Federal Credit Union

295 Los Altos Parkway, 789-3165

3. Mountain America Credit Union

1141 Steamboat Parkway, 829-4900

Best specialty foods store

1. Trader Joe’s

5035 S. McCarran Blvd., 826-1621

2. Whole Foods Market

6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023

3. Great Basin Community Food Co-op

240 Court St., 324-6133

Best place to get an auto smogged

1. Landa Muffler

816 E. Fourth St., 322-0112

2. GK Smog Inspection

1960 E. Second St., 323-4524

Best car wash

1. Hutch’s Mission Car Wash

6355 S. McCarran Blvd., 827-4222

2. Buggy Bath Car Wash

2525 S. Virginia St., 826-6679

3. Franktown Hand Car Wash

2331 Kietzke Lane, 827-2601

Best cheap liquor store

1. Total Wine & More

6671 S. Virginia St., 853-3669

2. Ben’s Fine Wine & Spirits

3480 Lakeside Drive, 825-0244

3. Ben’s Fine Wine & Spirits

901 W. Fourth St., 323-6277

Best barber shop

1. Maxwell’s Barbershop

555 S. Virginia St., 322-2466

2. Derby Supply Company

123 W. First St., 440-1930

3. A Downtown Barber Shop

1003 S. Virginia St., 322-3733

Best carpet cleaning company

1. Scott’s Carpet Care

10580 N. McCarran Blvd., 787-3040

2. Evergreen Carpet Care

990 S. Rock Blvd., 825-7569

3. New Sunrise Cleaning and Restoration

800-1429

Best event promoter

1. Christi Quatro, Big Fish Consulting Solutions

2. Amplified Entertainment

3. Oliver X

Best grocery store

1. Trader Joe’s

5035 S. McCarran Blvd., 826-1621

2. Whole Foods Market

6139 S. Virginia St., 852-8023

3. Great Basin Community Food Co-op

240 Court St., 324-6133

Best head shop

1. Art Dogs & Grace

218 Vassar St., 324-2787

2. Melting Pot World Emporium

1049 S. Virginia St., 322-9445

3. Hippies

1921 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 331-8554

Best mortgage company

1. Guild Mortgage

5390 Kietzke Lane, 200-0155

2. PrimeLending

50 W. Liberty St., 829-8555

Best nail technician

1. Lacie Carl

Villaggio Salon Suites

2. Sasha Wesner

Salon Bobby Pin

3. Shannon Ochoa

Jensen & Co. Salon

Best place to buy playa garb

1. Junkee Clothing Exchange & Antique Mall

960 S. Virginia St., 322-5865

2. Melting Pot World Emporium

1049 S. Virginia St., 322-9445

3. Culture

677 S. Virginia St., 657-6192

Best landscaping company

1. Signature Landscapes

3705 Barron Way, 857-4333

2. All Seasons Lawn & Landscaping

657 Twin Lakes Drive, 329-1531

3. Sierra Nevada Landscapes

1635 Marvel Way, 853-4445

Best wedding reception site

1. Lavender Ridge

7450 W. Fourth St., 747-3222

2. The Grove

95 Foothill Road, 324-7683

Best local place to work

1. Bizarre Guitar

2677 Oddie Blvd., 331-1001

2. Pet Play House

2403 E. Fourth St., 324-0202

3. Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center

235 W. Sixth St., 770-3194

Best new business

1. The Glass Die

675 Holcomb Ave., 384-1456

2. Piñon Bottle

777 S. Center St., 376-1211

2. See See Motor Coffee Co.

131 Pine St., 470-8464

Best recording studio

1. The Sound Saloon

420 Valley Road

2. Tanglewood Productions

125 Brinkby Ave., 688-6282

3. Imirage Sound Lab Studio

1558 Linda Way, Sparks, 358-7484

Best vape shop

1. School of Vape

580 E. Plumb Lane, 313-0437

2. Knuckle Dusters Vape Shop

1100 E. Plumb Lane, 410-8462

3. Reno Vapor Emporium

2303 S. Virginia St., 826-4588

Best workout wear selection

1. Scheels All Sports

1200 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 331-2700

2. Lululemon Athletica

13935 S. Virginia St., 851-9070

3. Hello Yoga

732 S. Virginia St., 420-5357